buildings, as we said before,
and this for two reasons, to guard the community and to practise
self-restraint; because that season of life, the Persians conceive,
stands most in need of care. During the day they present themselves
before the governors for service to the state, and, whenever necessary,
they remain in a body round the public buildings. Moreover, when the
king goes out to hunt, which he will do several times a month, he takes
half the company with him, and each man must carry bow and arrows, a
sheathed dagger, or "sagaris," slung beside the quiver, a light shield,
and two javelins, one to hurl and the other to use, if need be, at close
quarters. [10] The reason of this public sanction for the chase is not
far to seek; the king leads just as he does in war, hunting in person
at the head of the field, and making his men follow, because it is felt
that the exercise itself is the best possible training for the needs of
war. It accustoms a man to early rising; it hardens him to endure head
and cold; it teaches him to march and to run at the top of his speed; he
must perforce learn to let fly arrow and javelin the moment the quarry
is across his path; and, above all, the edge of his spirit must needs be
sharpened by encountering any of the mightier beasts: he must deal his
stroke when the creature closes, and stand on guard when it makes its
rush: indeed, it would be hard to find a case in war that has not its
parallel in the chase. [11] But to proceed: the young men set out
with provisions that are ampler, naturally, than the boys' fare, but
otherwise the same. During the chase itself they would not think of
breaking their fast, but if a halt is called, to beat up the game, or
for any hunter's reason, then they will make, as it were, a dinner of
their breakfast, and, hunting again on the morrow till dinner-time, they
will count the two days as one, because they have only eaten one day's
food. This they do in order that, if the like necessity should arise in
war, they may be found equal to it. As relish to their bread these
young men have whatever they may kill in the chase, or failing that,
nasturtium like the boys. And if one should ask how they can enjoy the
meal with nasturtium for their only condiment and water for their only
drink, let him bethink himself how sweet barley bread and wheaten can
taste to the hungry man and water to the thirsty. [12] As for the young
men who are left at home, they spend their t